Good Courses Near Barcelona

[Steve Wilson]

Courtesy of Pam's photography awards I'm going to be in Barcelona with her for nearly two weeks, December 3-16.  What's good in the area and what's affordable?  Any chance they overlap?  I'm probably not going to play, but, as they say, asking for a friend.

[Adam Lawrence]

Sant Cugat, about five miles from the city, was designed by Colt in 1919, but it was destroyed (during the civil war I believe) and rebuilt by Javier Arana. Unfortunately Arana's course has been fairly heavily changed since.


Arana also built El Prat, but it was sadly lost because of the expansion of the Barcelona airport and replaced by a 45-hole Greg Norman complex.


PGA Golf de Catalunya is an upmarket resort about an hour north of Barcelona, near the city of Girona, frequently voted the best course in Spain (best PR campaign imo). Nice property but I find the course underwhelming.

[Edward Glidewell]

PGA Golf de Catalunya is an upmarket resort about an hour north of Barcelona, near the city of Girona, frequently voted the best course in Spain (best PR campaign imo). Nice property but I find the course underwhelming.

They actually have two courses there -- the Stadium and the Tour. The Stadium is the one that's been used for European Tour events; not sure why they didn't name that one the Tour course.


Regardless, I agree with you. I've played the Stadium and was not especially impressed. The conditions were excellent but the course was middling.


If I could do it again, I'd skip the round of golf and go visit Girona instead.

[David Jones]

Sant Cugat, about five miles from the city, was designed by Colt in 1919, but it was destroyed (during the civil war I believe) and rebuilt by Javier Arana. Unfortunately Arana's course has been fairly heavily changed since.


Arana also built El Prat, but it was sadly lost because of the expansion of the Barcelona airport and replaced by a 45-hole Greg Norman complex.


PGA Golf de Catalunya is an upmarket resort about an hour north of Barcelona, near the city of Girona, frequently voted the best course in Spain (best PR campaign imo). Nice property but I find the course underwhelming.

The Rosa course at El Prat is worth a stop I think. I’m sure it’s not a patch on the original but it’s close to the city and worth a stroll.


The PGA Catalunya was one of the most overrated courses in Europe but has started dropping down the rankings I’m glad to say.


Have you considered taking the four hour drive to Valencia for a couple of nights? I did it a couple of weeks ago, the town is great and El Saler may be the best designed course in Spain.

[Marty Bonnar]

Stuff the golf.
Walk La Rambla, take a bus tour around the city, stop at the Camp Nou and the Olympics sites, go into La Sagrada Familia, walk around Park Güell, generally eat, drink and be merry. Above all, remember you’re in Catalonia - NOT Spain! 
Cheers,
F.

[JohnVDB]

Stuff the golf.
Walk La Rambla, take a bus tour around the city, stop at the Camp Nou and the Olympics sites, go into La Sagrada Familia, walk around Park Güell, generally eat, drink and be merry. Above all, remember you’re in Catalonia - NOT Spain! 
Cheers,
F.

Agree on this.  If Barca has a home match in that time, get tickets and go to Camp Nou.  It is an experience.  My GF doesn’t like soccer at all, but loved going to a Champions League game there. 


Go see the diving pool from the Olympics and the incredible view of the city in the background.


Lots of great museums, including a good Picasso one and Joan Miro.  Take a trip to Montserrat and the Cava Wineries.


There is so much to do there, I never missed the clubs.

[Steve Wilson]

Thanks guys, I'm not really planning on playing but thought I'd solicit some suggestions, as it looks like we will be going back in the 3rd quarter of 2022 for another exhibition.  I've heard so many great things about Barcelona we are both very excited to be going there.  Sorry to hear about the Colt course being destroyed.


I see there is a fast train to Madrid that might allow us to get a peekaboo at the Prado and I'd very much like to work my way north to Andorra.  That would leave only San Marino as a micro country I haven't managed to visit on the continent.  Of course, that doesn't take into account the Faeroe Islands!  So little done, so much to do. 

[MKrohn]

Stuff the golf.
Walk La Rambla, take a bus tour around the city, stop at the Camp Nou and the Olympics sites, go into La Sagrada Familia, walk around Park Güell, generally eat, drink and be merry. Above all, remember you’re in Catalonia - NOT Spain! 
Cheers,
F.

Agree on this.  If Barca has a home match in that time, get tickets and go to Camp Nou.  It is an experience.  My GF doesn’t like soccer at all, but loved going to a Champions League game there. 


Go see the diving pool from the Olympics and the incredible view of the city in the background.


Lots of great museums, including a good Picasso one and Joan Miro.  Take a trip to Montserrat and the Cava Wineries.


There is so much to do there, I never missed the clubs.

They have a Champions League game against Bayern but unfortunately its in Munich, there is a home La Liga game on the 5th Dec.


If you like coffee, an old work mate owns: [size=78%]Satan's Coffee Co. ? Barcelona (satanscoffee.com)[/size]

[Adam Lawrence]

I do generally agree with the views expresse heretofore. Barcelona is one of the great cities of the world, and golf would not be top of my priority list

[Sean_A]

Thanks guys, I'm not really planning on playing but thought I'd solicit some suggestions, as it looks like we will be going back in the 3rd quarter of 2022 for another exhibition.  I've heard so many great things about Barcelona we are both very excited to be going there.  Sorry to hear about the Colt course being destroyed.


I see there is a fast train to Madrid that might allow us to get a peekaboo at the Prado and I'd very much like to work my way north to Andorra.  That would leave only San Marino as a micro country I haven't managed to visit on the continent.  Of course, that doesn't take into account the Faeroe Islands!  So little done, so much to do.

If you get the chance do visit Madrid. For my time it is much the better city compared to Barcelona. More compact, older school feel, great bars and some very good courses in the hills around the city. Having Segovia, Toledo and Salamanca fairly short bus rides away is icing on the cake. Love the place.

Ciao

[Edward Glidewell]

If you get the chance do visit Madrid. For my time it is much the better city compared to Barcelona. More compact, older school feel, great bars and some very good courses in the hills around the city. Having Segovia, Toledo and Salamanca fairly short bus rides away is icing on the cake. Love the place.

Ciao

I agree -- while I enjoyed my time in Barcelona, it's the only city I've visited in Europe where I don't have a strong desire to return. I felt like I saw/experienced everything I wanted to there. I didn't have much time in Madrid, but I loved it. I also took the aforementioned fast train and it was a great trip.


I also second the suggestion of Montserrat. It's a great day trip up there.


Finally, while visiting La Rambla is fine, do not eat there. It's a tourist zone and the restaurants are not good.